👩‍🔬 Biology Carbon Cycle and Body Systems

For the quiz :|

What is Carbon?

An essential element in bodies of living organisms; also used for fossil fuels, so its economically important too.

How is it transferred?

Carbon dioxide is taken from the atmosphere by organisms who perform photosynthesis and who make organic molecules, traveling through the food chains. Then it is released through breathing as carbon dioxide again. It can also be geologically transferred.

What can contribute to increasing atmospheric CO2?

Burning of fossil fuels and deforestation

How does photosynthesis contribute?

It converts carbon dioxide into organic molecules, and then it is passed along the food chain and carbon dioxide is breathed out throughout.

How is carbon stored?

When matter from living organisms is brueid deep underground or sinks to the sea floor rock is formed, creating carbon. Volcanic activity and brunign of fossil fuels also brings previously stored carbon back into the cycle.

What’s the biological cycle?

Carbon enters food webs through autotrophs (organisms who perform photosynthesis). Carbon dioxide is cautpured and used to make gluclose and suhc, and when organic matter is consumed by heterotrophs, the carbon in it is passed thorugh the web.

How does carbon get back to the atmoshphere?

It is exhaled and expelled by living organisms as carbon dioxide. It can also be expelled by volcanic eruptions.

How does it get back to the ocean?

Carbon is also released throughout the food chain and eventually lands back in the ocean.

Where can carbon be stored?

It can be stored in the atmosphere, bodies of water, sediment, rock, and the geosphere, especially limestone, for long periods of time.

Where is it stored on land?

In the soil as organic carbon from the decomposition of living organisms or as inorganic carbon from weathering of rock and minerals. Fossil fuels are also stored deeper underground.

What are some human impacts on the carbon cycle?

Fossil fuels are nonrenewable and are getting used up very quickly- too fast to be renewed by the long geological process. Fossil fuel burning leads to CO2 production, as well as deforestation since there are less trees to combat the increasing amounts of CO2 in the air with oxygen. Only some CO2 produced can be absorbed.

Respiratory System

Facilitates gas exchange between cells and the environment; oxygen taken in is essential to cellular respiration process

Digestive system

ingests food and breaks it down to access usable nutrients; involved acids and enzymes to break down food particles

Cardiovascular/Circulatory System

Transports materials through the body such as oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste.

Urinary System

Extracts and excretes dissolved waste products from the blood; blood passes through kidneys filtering out substances

Endocrine System

Secretes chemical signals to allow body systems to respond to environnemental changes (reproductive signals, adrenaline rushes, hunger)

Nervous system

Allows bodies to perceive and respond to the world around, includes emotions and personality (brain, brain stem, nerves)

Muscular system/Skeletal System (Musculoskeletal)

Body structure and movement

Integumentary System/Exocrine System

Covers the body adn regulates outside world exhcanges (skin)

Lymphatic System/Immune system

Responsible for absorbing fat from digestive system, maintaining fluid balance, and supporting cells of immune system

Reproductive system

Production of offspring